Selecting The Perfect All Purpose Saddle For Your Horse Or Pony

The equestrian saddle has developed from rather humble origins to become a sophisticated and essential part of the horse riding experience

. While they often say that there are "horses for courses," it is certainly true to say that there are specific types of saddle according to the type of riding that you have in mind. The modern-day saddle benefits from centuries of development, often in the heat of battle, when the basic fundamentals necessary for successful use were hammered out. We can be assured that the modern-day product is truly designed for the purpose and will add considerably to our riding enjoyment.

An equestrian saddle may be categorised according to English or Western origins, with the English variety in use around the world and popular for working horsemen, the military and within a variety of competitive events. The English saddle is favoured for Olympic competition and riders typically choose between either dressage or jumping saddles according to the style of event and its particular demands.

As there is a considerable difference between the rather staid approach to dressage and the active involvement of jumping equestrianism, modified saddles have been designed accordingly. One is specifically manufactured and presented to keep the rider in place, while the other allows for the amount of movement necessary to perform correctly. Their designs have been tested and adjusted over the years in the pursuit of perfection.

If you are less specific and intend to enter a number of different styles of competition, you can choose an all purpose saddle. This is basically "in between" the other types, with a certain element of compromise as far as its design is concerned; the saddles are convenient and versatile. It's not so easy to jump between different types of saddle on the same horse when you are starting out and often better to select the all purpose version.

Whenever you have young adults or children involved, the chances are that you will be looking at a pony and should be aware that a pony saddle is usually designed for these smaller animals. While we know that a pony can actually take quite a considerable weight, it's still better to ensure that you select a saddle that is able to distribute the weight in the correct proportions, for comfort and safety's sake. Be careful here, as you might end up with an ill tempered child and an ill tempered pony, otherwise!

Just as you would select an appropriate style of saddle for your full-size horses based on your intended use, so you should choose the correct style of pony saddle as well. A jumping saddle is popular for show jumping, as well as for hunting while the dressage saddle is designed for far less frenetic activities. If your child wants to enter shows, a specific type of saddle can be selected to help the judges observe the animal in action without too much hindrance. As horse riding can indeed be addictive, it is likely that the pony will be used for a number of different activities and in this case, an all purpose saddle is probably the right choice.

by: Nick Morgan

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